Meet Your Board of Directors

Governing Board

The Governing Board is responsible for the overall guidance of the organization. This Board will:

• Set the organization’s mission and objectives,
• Establish broad policies,
• Select, appoint, support and review direct employees,
• Ensure the availability of adequate financial resources,
• Approve annual budgets, and
• Account to the stakeholders for the organization’s performance.

President:  Don Grafues,  Saint David, Arizona.

This position oversees and guides the Arts Council in its quest to carry out its mission.  Is the “voice” of the Arts Council in public venues at local, county and state levels.  The president is selected by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Council from among the Board Members.


Don has a BS in Engineering Science from Washington University in St.  Louis.  While going to school Don worked in the library of the School of Fine Arts and Architecture as well as in the University’s art gallery.  After graduation Don audited classes in Art History at New York University.  Don’s past life includes 25 years of sales and marketing at Motorola, Inc.  with six of those years in overseas positions in Geneva, Switzerland, Tel Aviv, Israel and Guadalajara, Mexico.  Don also worked as a design engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, a marketing executive at General Instruments and ran his own independent rep organization.  Don recently served as President, Benson/San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce⁽¹⁾, leaving that office in July, 2011.

(1): The Benson Chamber is not a member of the National Chamber.

Vice President:  OPEN 

The vice president’s role is to assist the President and other Directors in carrying out the mission of the San Pedro River Arts Council.  The Vice President fills in for President when absent or when the position is vacant.  The Vice President is Chair of the Audit Committee.

Secretary:  OPEN 

The office of Secretary keeps the records for the San Pedro River Arts Council and assists with official correspondence.

Treasurer:  Bill Smith,  Cochise, Arizona.

The Treasurer assumes responsibility for all things financial for the San Pedro River Arts Council.  This individual keeps meticulous records of income and expenditures and oversees the budget process.  This individual files necessary forms with federal and state taxing authorities and reports the financial condition of the Council to the Board of Directors in a timely fashion.  The Treasurer serves on the Audit Committee.


Bill was born in Pennsylvania and spent most of his adult life in New England, moving to Cochise County in 2003.  Bill believes he is genetically predisposed to being an artist.  His mother was an oil painter and grandmother a watercolorist.  His preferred medium is acrylic applying it to canvas with either brush or palette knife.  Bill rejects being pigeon holed into one category.  Consequently, he is now exploring clay and steel sculpture.  Bill describes himself as a western theme artist, with a lean toward capturing the Arizona big sky.  He gets inspiration from Taos Society of Artists and Maynard Dixon.  Bill is a member artist and was an exhibitor in the 2011 Celebrate the Arts! and is a participating artist at
Industria Studios.  Bill became Treasurer of the Council June 14, 2011.

Director – Education:  Sharon Gilman,  Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Leads the Council’s efforts to promote arts education in area schools.


Sharon is Director of Lifelong Learning, Cochise College.  Sharon has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Edward’s University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and a Master of Public Administration, Southwest Texas State University.  Sharon’s experience includes marketing and community out reach program development at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She also was responsible for planning, coordinating, and operating the Army Tuition Assistance Program for all active duty soldiers in the Southern California/Nevada area.  While with U.S. Army Morale Welfare & Recreation, Ft. Rucker, AL., Sharon ensured compliance with internal controls, standard operating procedures and safety guidelines.

Director – Programming:  OPEN 

Responsible for external events and outreach activities of the Council.  We are currently recruiting to fill this position.

Director – Grants & Funding:  OPEN 

Responsible for identifying sources of income for the Council and ensuring there is a sufficient income to support the Council’s activities.  We are currently recruiting to fill this position.

Board Member at Large:  Shryl Miles  Saint David, Arizona

This individual is a Board member with no specific on-going assigned task or responsibility.  A Board Member at Large will typically help other Board members and volunteers with developing and executing programs and events.

Shryl Miles graduated with Highest Honors from California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design.  She also studied for 2 years with renowned California artist and teacher Hal Reed, founder of The Art League of Los Angeles.  Although proficient in oil and acrylic, Shryl’s preferred media is watercolor.

Board Member at Large:  Bernard Fierro,  Benson, Arizona.

This individual is a Board member with no specific on-going assigned task or responsibility.  A Board Member at Large will typically help other Board members and volunteers with developing and executing programs and events.

Bernard Fierro attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as a full time scholarship student from 1956 to 1960.  He studied painting and drawing with Walter Stumpfig, Julius Block, Hobson Pittman and Morris Blackburn.  In 1959 he was awarded the Cecilia Beaux Portrait Prize and was honored twice with traveling scholarships; the Cresson Award and the Henry Schiedt Memorial Prize, which enabled him to study art and travel in Europe in 1959, and 1960 where he was influenced by Velasquez and Goya as well as French and Italian masters.  Bernie is represented by Chaparral Fine Arts Gallery in Bozeman, MT.  and Gallery of Dreams in Saint David, AZ.  When not ranching and tending to his many animals, Bernie paints and tutors others.

Adjunct Board

The Adjunct Board is made up of member volunteers who provide advice and execute specific tasks under the direction of the Governing Board.  An Adjunct Board member may, but are not obligated to, attend regular board meetings and work sessions of the Governing Board.  Adjunct Board members have no voting rights as do members of the Governing Board.

Past President:  Sylvia Burnside,  Littleton, Colorado.

The Past President provides advice to the Governing Board and continuity with the prior leadership of the Arts Council.


Sylvia has a BA in Creative Arts from Bradford College.  Her work career includes teaching kindergarten art, Panel Coordinator for the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards, Principal for Pythagorean Press creating and producing graphic designs.  She is a freelance artist.  Sylvia also served on a grants panel for the Arizona Commission of the Arts.  Sylvia was one of the founders of the Arts Council and served as President through September of 2011.

Media Relations:  OPEN 

This individual is responsible for generating press releases and submitting them to the media in time to promote Arts Council activities and to invite the media to our events.

Graphic Design:  Denise Eggman  Cochise, Arizona

The Graphics Designer designs our promotional materials including program specific logos, flyers, invitations and other materials promoting our programs to the public.


Denise started as a freelance graphic designer in 1987.  Her clients include advertising agencies, hospitals, major corporations as well as numerous small businesses.  She recently became involved in medical illustration.

Curator, Wall-Space Gallery:  John Hurbon 

This individual is responsible for generating press releases and submitting them to the media in an appropriate time go promote the activities of the Arts Council.  The Media Relations person may also be called upon to orchestrate interviews with board members, staff and members of the organization.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring the Council operates to legal and ethical standards. This Committee will:

• Ensure financial standards are in place and followed,
• Create and monitor performance to Standards of Internal Control,
• Review findings of annual external audit, and
• Make recommendations to the Governing Board.

The Audit Committee meets twice a year, more as may be necessary to accomplish responsibilities.  The Audit Committee membership consists of Vice President (Chair), Treasurer, one additional Board Member and at least one additional member.